3/19/98

 

[Hearthstone, Front Porch]
Airy and open, the porch is enclosed by smooth, freshly painted white modwir up to a height of about four feet. As you ponder the sky-blue color of the ceiling and a lacework of deep green ivy that crisscrosses the open space between posts, the hubbub of the world beyond quickly fades away. Rocking chairs of various sizes are an inviting sight, and an elegant marble arch provides a tantalizing view of the splendors inside the old manor. You also see the Danay disk, the Grechion disk, an elegant green marble arch, a doorman and the porch steps.
Also here: Taibhse who is seated, Lady Eanna who is seated, Lord Pelendur who is seated, Lord Grechion who is seated
Obvious paths: none.

Eanna says, "i am starting to write another poem"

>You smile at Eanna.

s>Eanna smiles at you.

s>You say, "I did not know you were a poet."

s>Eanna says, "well...from the one i wrote from before"

s>Eanna says, "the Lament of the Faendryl"

s>Eanna says, "i decided to try another one"

s>You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.

s>You ask, "Have you recited it for me before?"

Eanna nods to you.

s>Eanna says, "i would love to recite it again tho"

You say, "Please do."

s>Eanna says, "if Lord Pelendur would like to hear it"

s>Eanna asks, "can we go somewhere quiet or is this okay?"

s>Pelendur says, "Of course, I would be honored."

s>Eanna smiles at you.

s>Pelendur smiles at Eanna.

s> Eanna beams happily at Pelendur!

s>You say, "Here is good if you do not mind."

s>You smile.

Eanna says, "okay - so long as no one else does"

s>Eanna smiles at Grechion.

s>Eanna smiles at Taibhse.

s>Taibhse smiles at Eanna.

s>Eanna asks, "mind if i recite something?"

s> Grechion bows to Eanna.

s>You wave to Dwu.

s>Grechion says, "not at all m'Lady"

s>Dwu bows to you.

s>Eanna asks, "a poem i wrote?"

s>Eanna beams!

s>Eanna stands up.

s>Taibhse says, "Nae, milady. Please do."

s>Grechion sits down.

s>Taibhse beams!

s>Dwu grins.

s>Eanna says, "then here it is"

s>Eanna says, "tis a tale of the elder days"

s>Eanna says, "and the great war "

s>Grechion leans on Taibhse.

s>Eanna coughs.

s>Taibhse leans on Grechion.

s>(Eanna gets a far-way look in her eyes and begins to speak)

Eanna recites:

""The rule of Drakes had long ere ended
The Age of Man not yet portended
The sun was young, the moon a child
The stars were bright, and nature smiled"

Eanna recites:

""When Elvenkind gathered the scattered bands
Beneath one banner united the lands
Bound up the wounds of loss and war
The light of hope by love restored"

Eanna recites:

""Glittering cities did they build
On virgin fields wrought and tilled
Towers of mithril and silvery glass
Tinkling fountains, such beauty, alas"

Eanna recites:

""As a morning rose endureth not
A pure heart tempted may yield and rot
And so it came to pass, too soon A
ncient oaths forsworn, frost-blighted bloom"

Eanna recites:

""Elves once guided by virtue divine
Now held the thongs that bound Mankind
Hopes laid aside, prayers unsaid
Graves untended, such paths they tread"

Eanna recites:

""Yet eyes do watch and ears do listen
Their fall from grace remained not hidden
All seeds to harvest, all debts come due
From a spoilt cup springs a bitter brew"

Eanna recites:

""The ageless maiden, long She'd slept
A thing of the darkness, a secret well-kept
Quickened and stirred, She awoke and She fed
Like mana of woe, on the tears of the dead"

Eanna recites:

""Deathless Mistress, Nightshade flower
She raised her arms, put forth Her power
Spells of horror, words of pain
Poison storms, burning rain"

Eanna recites:

""At Her command, with sightless eyes
The armies of the night did rise
From battle mound, from tomb and grave
Moaning in hunger, life blood to crave"

Eanna recites:

""The Elven houses, ranks arrayed
Awakened now, their doom betrayed
Noble banners, by wind unfurled
Lances thrust, axes hurled"

Eanna recites:

""The Elf lords rode, with desperate valor
To stem the foe, yet were devoured
As howling waves in storm do sweep
O'er loaming shore and sandy keep "

Eanna recites:

""So drowned Elf might and majesty
In tide of hate and bloody sea
Great houses tottered, foundations cleft
Undone by pride, of hope bereft"

Eanna recites:

""Yet from the ashes gleamed a spark
A clamor of voices denying the dark
The other races armed and thronged
Laying down their memory of Elven wrong"

Eanna recites:

""Giantkind striding in clan-wove kilts
Longbeards with axes of mithril gilt
Halfling tart-lovers gathered in host
Even the humans who'd suffered the most"

Eanna smiles at Pelendur.

>Dwu smirks.

Eanna recites:

""And so the poison flow was stemmed
The undead hordes thrown back and hemmed
In a great fortress, black keep of despite
Maelsheyve was its name, it had never known light"

Eanna recites:

""There She turned, fierce at bay
Virtue to banish, hope to slay
Cruel iron gates that none could pass
Tunnels and pits, scorched earth and ash"

Eanna recites:

""The Elanthians halted but did not take flight
They stood fast and fought, long day into night
In valiant assault and desperate defense
Ever they rallied, they would not relent"

Eanna recites:

""What tale will tell of the bravery they showed?
The bright red blood, Gods how it flowed
Down corpse-choked slopes as into a maw
The pits of unlife from which power She'd draw"

Eanna recites:

""To raise yet anew more undead for the fight
Fallen friends became foes, how horrid that sight
Honor and valor, freedom dear-bought
Courage and kinship, it all seemed for naught"

Eanna sighs.

s>Eanna recites:

""For the mightiest arms of mortals will tire
Whilst grave-spawned terrors weary not nor desire
Aught but to feed on hatred and lust
Rend, tear and maim, such is their trust"

Eanna recites:

""The defenders of light, bitter truth did they grasp
As their own ranks dwindled, Her numbers grew vast
As a cold wind that numbs, despair did spread
In bravest of hearts, a shadow of dread"

Eanna recites:

""The Wise then took counsel, generals and priests
Nobles and commons, the proud and the meek
Seeking a way to sunder the bonds
That wound Her designs for a night without dawn"

Eanna recites:

""The Council knew not, that fateful eve
Of others that met, a plan to conceive
Apart from the army in close-guarded glade
Gathered the Faendryl elf mages arrayed"

Eanna recites:

""Narvon stood forth, Arch-mage and sire
Raised staff in hand, eyes gleaming with fire
"Hear me o brethren, my visions descry
Doom close at hand, we must act ere all die""

Eanna recites:

""No other paths left if light's to prevail
We must call forth our power, pierce now the Veil
The darkness itself will be its own doom
Corpse queen and undead, let demons consume"

Eanna recites:

""The mages did nod, make vow and prepare
To summon and bind with runes of despair
"No!" rang the clear voice of Kassia Moonrise
Silver-clad daughter, fair, gentle and wise"

Eanna recites:

""Father, pray no, may light be so defended?
Such sorcery will make evil greater, not mend it
Did not this begin with temptation of pride?
From the paths of our faith we must not turn aside"

Eanna recites:

""Thus spake Narvon's daughter, alone and apart
Tears in her eyes, hands over her heart
The mages then murmured, uneasy, unsure
Hearing truth in her words, some began to demur"

Eanna recites:

""Then Narvon flushed and called all to silence
Eyes red with fury, face twisted with violence
"So! Dare thee child to gainsay thy father?
In war such is treason, though thou be my daughter"

Eanna recites:

""Repent thy words now! Obey my command!
Tis not play we discuss, but the fate of the land!"
Kassia blanched and knelt at his feet
Bowed head in sorrow, soft words did she speak"

Eanna recites:

""Father I love thee, forgive me I pray
But this path is wrong - I beg thee, please stay
Narvon sat silent, all listened in dread
Then grimly he stood, "So be it" he said"

Eanna recites:

""And raising his sword
Enforced kingly right
Stained the ground with her blood
The stars wept at the sight"

(Taibhse sighs and leans against Grechion.)

s>Eanna sighs.

You grimace.

s>Dwu grins.

s>Eanna recites:

""In fey voice cried he "Mark well - tis done
We are damned one and all, finish now what's begun"
In loathing and fear, at Narvon's behest
They began the dread work, fate's course to arrest"

Eanna recites:

""Circles and lines of power to weave
Demons to snare, imps to deceive
With a hiss and a scream, the Veil was torn
The heavens were shattered, the unchained took form"

Eanna recites:

""The mages cowered at that ghastly array
Struck dumb and trembling in fear and dismay
Save Daephron who cried "Thou'art bound and enspelled!
We summoned thee hence, to our will be compelled"

Eanna recites:

""Slay now our foes, undead shadows and beasts
Dark queen and court, from greatest to least"
The Demon-king bowed, eyes aglitter with spite
And mockingly laughed "Mortal, thou hast the right"

Eanna recites:

""We thank thee indeed, for by thy device
Our prison is weakened, at such petty price"
With a curse and a snarl, Demon-king took to flight
Fiendish legion in train, up away through the night"

Eanna recites:

""The Wise of Elanthia still sat in debate
Sombre and weary, contending with fate
When sudden from above came a howl and a moan
The thunder of wings, thousands, then they were gone"

Eanna recites:

""Early next morn, warriors wakened and armed
Prepared once again to face undead swarm
Then eyes opened wide, mouths gaped in wonder
The fortress of evil lay torn asunder"

Eanna recites:

""With cheer and hurrah, they rushed into the breach
The evil things fled, those not slain or released
Oh joyous song! Thou wast never true sung!
Afore that glad day, when victory was won"

Eanna recites:

""The dark queen was gone beyond fear of recall
Not one trace was left - but how came Her fall?
The Wise gathered round with a growing dismay
They began to suspect other powers at play"

Eanna recites:

""Dirge-chant was heard, from the Faendryl camp
Two coffins borne high, women wailing, hair-rent
Folk looked at each other, aghast and amazed
What had happened, and why, to mourn on such day"

Eanna recites:

""At the feet of the Council, the boxes were laid
And tenderly opened, within to display
Fair Kassia Moonrise, still evermore now
Narvon Arch-Mage, sorrow etched on his brow"

Eanna recites:

""For when binding was done, he'd knelt at her side
Wept, set his sword, fell upon it, and died
In grief and in dread, the Council did ask
"Such woe-filled sight, how came this to pass?""

Eanna sighs.

s>Eanna recites:

""The Faendryl then sighed and uneasily told
Of great power summoned with magicks of old
The Council of Elanthia listened in horror
That anyone living would weaken the door"

Eanna recites:

""That held back the Demons, nightmares foretold
Whose evil unleashed cannot be controlled
"But hark," said the Faendryl, "We did this for thee
By our sorcerous powers, the world is now free"

Eanna recites:

""The demons be gone, have faith in our trust
Our magics are strong, our purpose was just"
"Nay" said the Wise, "Do you not understand?
Blinded by pride, that by thy own hand"

Eanna recites:

""The Veil is weakened, the binding once-sundered
Sure was its strength, now all fear and wonder
The danger was great, our enemy was dire
Yet thy proud reckless act earns you the world's ire"

Eanna recites:

""The Wise then proclaimed, in sadness and anguish
"For the deed they had done, the Faendryl be banished
Outcast and shunned, guilt marked in their hearts
Lost in the shadows, ever apart"

Eanna recites:

""House Faendryl, alas, like a sun didst thou kindle
Once-great Elven house, doomed to wander and dwindle
In cavern and hall, laid deep underground
Gnawed and forgotten, no fall so profound"

Eanna recites:

""Brothers and sisters, hark now as I close
And commend thee this tale of triumph and woe
Lament of the Faendryl, who to save a world doomed
Put end before means - how well did they choose?"

Eanna bows.

s>Luathia applauds.

s>Dwu grins.

s>Tzir applauds.

s>Pelendur applauds.

Cruxius applauds.

s>Typhus applauds.

s>Luathia applauds.

s>Taibhse beams!

s>You gaze in awe at Eanna.

>Taibhse applauds.

s>You stand back up.

>Taibhse applauds.

>You applaud.

>Dwu applauds.

>You applaud.

>Taibhse gazes in awe at Eanna.

>Eanna smiles.

>Pelendur stands up.

>You hug Eanna.

>Tzir turns towards Eanna and renders a sharp hand salute.

>Taibhse exclaims, "Well done, milady!"

Luathia applauds.

>Dwu says, "Good story Elven"

>Pelendur applauds.

>You exclaim, "That was most amazing!"

>Eanna bows.

>Eanna beams happily at Taibhse!

>Grechion applauds.

>Grechion stands up.

>Eanna beams happily at you!

>Taibhse says, "It was beautiful."

>Grechion kneels down.

>Taibhse just hugged Eanna.

>whis eann and you never did recite it for me. >Ok.

>Eanna says, "thank you"

>Eanna just hugged Taibhse.

>You say, "Eanna, I am awstruck."

>Eanna says, "tis the tale of my folk"

>Grechion asks, "Why are thou not a bard, m'Lady Eanna?"

>Taibhse nods to Eanna.

>Grechion bows to Eanna.

>Taibhse says, "I recognize it."

>Taibhse smiles.

>Cruxius removes an emerald from inside his shadowy black hip-satchel.

>Eanna smiles at Taibhse.

>Cruxius begins a musical chant...

>Eanna says, "i am no bard"

>Cruxius skillfully weaves another verse into his harmony, directing the sound of his voice at an emerald. Nothing happens.

>You say, "Warriors have great traditions of being story tellers."

>You smile.

>Grechion grins.

>Eanna says, "only a maiden of the goddess"

>Grechion smiles at Eanna.

>Taibhse nods to you.

>Cruxius gibbers incoherently.

>Eanna taps a white Leya sash.

>You smile at Eanna.

>Grechion smiles at Eanna.

>Cruxius offers Eanna an emerald.

>Taibhse says, "I am so glad you recited for us."

>Eanna says, "and for my inspiration i thank Her"

>Grechion says, "It was beautiful m'Lady"

>Dwu grins.

>You nod to Taibhse.

>Eanna beams happily at Cruxius!

>Cruxius says, "a most worthy treat"

>Eanna accepts Cruxius's emerald.

Dwu says, "aye tanks muchly"

>Eanna exclaims, "goodness!!!"

>You smile at Cruxius.

>Dwu waves to Eanna. >

Taibhse nods to Cruxius.

>Eanna exclaims, "an emerald!"

>Eanna says, "thank you"

> Eanna curtsies to Cruxius.

> Eanna waves an emerald around.

>Cruxius says, "you're welcome M'Lady"

>Eanna says, "i am honored - thank you all"

>Eanna says, "and thank you for listening"

>You say, "We are the honored ones."

>You bow to Eanna.

>Eanna says, "tis my first effort"

>Taibhse beams happily at Eanna!

>Eanna leans on you.

>You gawk at Eanna.

>Cruxius says, "makes me ashmed to be a bard almost"

You say, "Well goodness."

>Taibhse says, "Most especially well doe then."

>Grechion says, "and wonderfully beautiful effort, m'Lady"

>Grechion chuckles.

>Eanna bites her lip.

>Eanna blushes a nice shade of off-pink.

>Eanna smiles.

>Grechion nods to Cruxius.

>Tzir says, "ye may have to change professions - most bards would be envious"

>Eanna smiles at Taibhse.

>Eanna shakes her head.

You smile at Tzir.

>Grechion says, "we are, Tzir"

> Grechion whistles a complicated ditty, impressing you with his virtuosity.

>Grechion stares off into space.

>Tzir smiles.

>Cruxius says, "i hope that never comes true in our day"

>Eanna whispers, ""sorry - i thought i had done it for thee before - i am glad you heard it then"

>Tzir says, "Well, a story seems a good note to end the night on - fare thee all well"